Pneumatic semaphore-signal



(No Model.) k 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. WAYLAND. PNEUMATIC SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

No. 447,988. Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

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2 SheetsSheet 2.

Patented Mar. 10, 1891.

J. WAYLAND. PNEUMATIC SEMAPHORE SIGNAL.

(No Model.)

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, UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES VAYLAND, OF NEXVARK, NEW JERSEY.

PN EU MATIC SEMAPHORE-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,988, dated'March 10, 1891. Application filed July 3, 1890. erial No. 357,617. (No model.)

To all wham it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES WAYLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Semaphore-Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany-' ing drawings, and to letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an automatic train-signaling device of reduced cost of constructionone having a more compact and simple arrangement of partsand to indicate to the conductor or engineer the proximity of a previous train, as will be more fully set forth.

The invention consists in the improved pneumatic signaling apparatus and in the arrangements and combinations of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters and numerals indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a vertical section showing the device in connection with the railway. Fig. 2 is a detail view of a certain catching or holding lever. Fig. 3 is a detail of afulcrumed bracket for the same. Fig. 4: is a detailplan of a certain valve. Fig. 5 is a plan of a support forastationary piston. Figs. 6 and Tare respectively a plan and section on line a: of a connectingpiece which joins a certain cylinder with a piston or connecting rod. Fig. 8 is a detail plan of the guides for said piston or connectingrod, and Fig. 9 is a plan of the head of said piston. Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged sectional views of the mechanisms for operating the semaphore detached from the standard or post and shown in different positions, and Fig. 12 is a similar view showing a varied construction.

In said drawings, a indicates a hollow post, which may be of wood or metal or a combination of the two, and 1) indicates a semaphore, which is pivoted at 0, Figs. 1,10, and

nearly counterbalances that of the semaphore, there being a slight difference, however, sufficient to allow the semaphore to gravitate automatically. The weighted arm 6 may be glazed, as at c, with red glass, so that at night when the said arm drops on account of the passage of a train the glass will pass in front of a lantern or white light, and thus show to the engineer or conductor of the following train the red danger-signal,indicating theproximity of an advance train. \Vithin the said hollow post a are bearings g gfor a longitudinal piston or connecting-rod h, which latter extends vertically from the foot or lower end of the post, where it engages or is engaged by a lever 1', adapted to receive the pressure of the track as the train passes over it or of the wheels of the train direct, as indicated in broken line in Fig. 1. The lever t' is fulcrumed near the track and has its longer arm engage the vertical piston or connecting-rod, so that a slight depression of said track will give considerable vertical movement to the said piston or connecting-rod, as will be understood. -A spring j may be employed to cushion the movement of the rod h, due to inertia, after having been suddenly thrown by the lever. of the piston or connecting-rod is arranged a fixed bracket or bearing for a stationary head Z, adapted to operate in connection with a cylinder m, arranged to reciprocate in connection with the piston or connecting-rod hp The said head Z is preferably of cylindrical or round form and is in that event screwed into a female thread It, formed in thebearing or bracket 70. The movable cylinder m-is -preferably secured to the piston or connecting.

rod h by means of a coupling-head-n,.provided with ears 0 0, carrying a pivot 19, on which the piston-rod is secured, the said coupling:head n being riveted, as at q, or otherwise secured to downwardlyextending arms 1 of the cylinder, as shown more clearly in Figs. 10 and. 12. A valve 5 is provided, which isadapted to allow ofa sudden inflow of air to the chamber 25 of the cylinder. The

said valve may have its seat on the fixed head Z, as in Figs. 1, 10, and 11, being held in proper normal relation thereto by a spring 'Lb,

At a point near the upper end 11, and weighted, as at 6, so that the weight or the said valve may have its seat on the cylinder, as in Fig. 12, in which case the cylinder-head or end plate m is perforated to allow of the desired inflow of air to the cylinder. From said cylinder-chamber a small opening 20 allows of a slow escape of air from said cylinder. This I have shown both in the valve 5 in Figs. 1,10, and 11 and in the head Zin Fig. 12. It may be formed in any other suitable position. The outflow through said small opening may be regulated and controlled by a valve to, having suitable bearings at the end of said opening, where it may be easily manipulated or adjusted.

By means of the movable cylinder working on a fixed piston-head I am enabled to secure a simple construction and one cheaply-man ufactured. Expensive guides or ways f or regulating the movement of the parts are dis pensed with, and the chamber may be filled with air from the outer atmosphere automatically or by the movement of the walls forming the chamber.

In connection with the movable cylinderis arranged a vertical rod 2, which may besecured to the upper end or head of the cylinder in any suitable manner. The said rod 2 may be solid, as in Fig. 12, or tubular or hollow, as in Figs. 10 and 11, in the latter case the said rod being arranged in telescopic connection with an upper rod 3, connecting with a crank or lever 4, secured to the pivot c of the semaphore b. hen the rod 2 is solid,it is arranged in line with the said upper rod 3, or so as to engagethe end of the same. An upward movement of the cylinder and rod 2 connected'therewith is adapted to cause the said rod to engage the upper rod orabearing 5 andto throw the same upward, so as to turn the crank or lever 4t and semaphore, as will be understood. IVhen the rod 3 is at the upper limit of its stroke, it is caught by a catch 6, preferably a lever pivoted upon a bracket or bearing 7, formed or secured upon the interior of the post or standard a. By means of the catch the said rod 3 and the .sephamore connected therewith are held a limited period of time, which is regulated by means of the escape-valve 20. As the lower rod 2 descends a bearing 8 thereon engages the arm 9 of the lever and throws the latter from catching relation with the bearing of the rod 3, as will clearly be understood upon reference to Fig. 10.

In operating the device the lever "i on the passage of a train over the track throws the rod h and the movable cylinder connected therewith upward, opening the valve 3, be-

cause of the otherwise impervious connection and arrangement of the cylinder and head Z, 011 which said cylinder slides. The air rushes through the perforations or openings 10 as the cylinder-chamber 25 enlarges, and upon the closing of the valve .5 at the end of the stroke given by the lever iis held against a certain amount of pressure about equal to the weight of the rod 2 and its attachments. The upward movement of the rod 'h and cylinder and its rod 2 throws the rod3 upward to a point where it will be caught, as above described. The pressure on the air in the chamber zfcauses it to escape through the small opening or vent w, and asit thus flows outward the cylinder and rod 2 are allowed to slowly descend, and when the bearingS engages the lever 9 the latter is thrown from catching engagement and the rod 3 immediately drops to the position indicatedin Fig. 11, carrying with it the semaphore. By adjusting the screw of the valve to the outflow of air from the cylinder is regulated andthe length of time of holding the semaphore in its position indicative of danger is increased or diminished at will.

I am aware that other modifications or variations than those specifically provided for can be made.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a railway-signal, the combination, with the semaphore and air-receptacle m, of separate or independent rods 2 and 3 and a catch operable to hold rod 3 and to be thrown from holding engagement by rod 2, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a railway appliance, the combination, with a part Z) to be operated and a rod 2, adapted to move under an impulse given by the railway-train, of a rod 3, movable independent of the said rod 2 and connected to said part b, means for holding said part b stationary while the said rod 2 is returning to a normal position after the said impulse given by the railway-train, and means on said rod 2 for releasing said holding means, substantially as set forth.

3. In a railway-signal, the combination, with the semaphore, of a rod 2, adapted to be moved vertically under the impulse of the passing train, an independent rod 3, con nected to said semaphore and provided with a bearing 5, and a lever'adapted to engage said bearing and to hold said rod 3 from gravitating, the said rod 2 being provided with means adapted to engage said lever and release the same from holding engagement,

substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

4. In a railway appliance, two movable rods arranged in line, one provided with a bearing to receive a catch and the other a bearing to trip said catch, and said catch extending into positions to engage said bearings, whereby when the upward movement of one of said rods v ill throw the other upward the latter will be caught and held until the gravitation of the other rod will cause its bearing to trip the catch and allow the first rod to gravitate, substantially as set forth.

5. In a railway appliance, the combination, with the part b to be operated, of a vertical rod 3, connected with and operating the same and provided with a catch-bearing 5, a rod 2,

movable vertically under the impulse given by the passing train and provided with a bearing 8, and a pivoted lever 6, adapted to engage the said bearings 5 and 8, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

' 6. In a railway-signal, in combination, the semaphore b, pivoted at c, crank 4, rod 3, operating the same and having bearing 5, a rod 2 in line with said rod 3, but movable independent thereof, and having a bearing 8, a lever 6, adapted to enter into holding engagement with said bearing 5 and to be thrown from such engagement by the bearing 8, and means, substantially as described, for forcing said rod 2 under the impulse given by the passing train, substantially as set forth.

7. In a railway appliance, the combination, with the vertically-movable rod 2, an independent movable rod 3, and catch, of an airreceptacle having a movable part connected with said rod 2 and means for introducing air to said receptacle, means for allowing the slow escape of said air and gravitation of said movable part and rod connected therewith, and means operable by said gravitating parts to release said catch, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In arailway appliance, the combination, with the part 3 to be operated by the passing train, of a catch to hold said part stationary, a pneumatic receptacle having a movable part connecting with the railway and adapted to be operated by the passing train to'cause an inflow of air to said receptacle and at the same time to force the said appliance or part 3 into engagement with said catch, and a vent adapted to allow an outflow of air from said receptacle and the gravitation of the movable parts, the gravitating parts being adapted to engage the catch, whereby the part 3 is released to return automatically to an initial position, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination, semaphore b, crank 4, rod 3, having bearing 5, independent rod 2, having bearing 8, catch 6, air-receptacle having a movable part m, connecting with said rod 2, valve allowing an inflow of air to said receptacle, a vent allowing a slow exit, and means for forcing the air into said receptacle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In a railway appliance, the combination, with the part to be operated and a catch to hold the same in position when thrown from the normal position by the passing train, of a device adapted to be operated upon by the passing train to throw said part to be operated into engagement with said catch and to gravitate immediately thereafter, the said device having a suitable projection to engage said catch and release the same from said partto be operated to allow the same to return to a normal position, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination with the lever 11 and rod 71, having a cylinder secured at the upper end thereof, wit-h arms 4 and head 1?, a fixture 7:, having the head Z, on which the said cylinder works, a valve to allow a rapid inflow of air and a valve to allow a slow outflow of air, a rod 2, fixed to and working with the cylinder, having a bearing 8, arod 3,adapted to be operated by the rod 2 and to be separated therefrom and having a bearing 5, and a catch adapted to be engaged by said bearings 8 and 5, substantially as set forth.

12. In a railway appliance, substantially as set forth, the rod 2, connected with the railway and adapted to be operated by the passingtrain,said rod havinga bearing 8, in combination with a rod 3, having abearing 5, and a catch adapted to hold said rod 3 in a raised position until released by engagement with the bearing 5,substantially as set forth.

13. In a railway appliance, a rod 2, connected with the railway and having a bearing 8, a rod 3, arranged telescopically therein and havinga bearing 5, and a catch adapted to be engaged by said bearing, substantially asset forth.

14. In a railway appliance, a rod 3, adapted to'be held in a stationary position, a rod 2, adapted to be operated .by the passing train and to operate said rod 3 to raise it to its stationary position, means for holding said rod 3 in its stationary position, and means connected to said rod 2 to release the said rod 3, said parts being combined substantially as set forth.

15. In a railway appliance, the combination, with a rod 3 adapted to be forced to an elevated position by the movable portion of a pneumatic receptacle, of a catch for holding said rod in said elevated position, a vent adapted to allow the gravitation of said movable portion, and a releasing bearing controlled by said movable portion, whereby the catch may be released from holding engagement with the elevated rod at a desired point of its gravitation, substantially as set forth.

16. In a railway appliance, the combination, with a semaphore or other railway appliance or device adapted to be moved from one position to another and to be held at said other position, of arod 2, adapted to be operated by the passing train in connection with the movable portion of a fluid-receptacle, a catch controlled by said rod for holding said semaphore stationary, a vent to allow a return movement of the said movable portion of the fluid-receptacle, and means for regulating the flow of fluid from said vent, whereby the said return movement may be controlled with reference to time, substantially as set forth.

17. In a railway appliance, the combination, with the rod 3, adapted to be raised and held stationary, of a catch for holding the same, a fluid-receptacle having a movable part controlled by the passing train and controlling the rod 3 to raise the same and a releasing bearing to disengage the catch from holding relation to the said rod 3, a valve to allow an inflow of fluid to said receptacle, and a vent allowing a slow outflow, substantially as set for operating said cylinder under the power forth. transmitted from the passing train, substan- 18. In a railway appliance, the fixture 76, a tially as set forth. threaded head screwed thereto, and a cylinder In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 5 movable on said head and connected to the have hereunto set my hand this 2d day of I 5 railway to be operated by the passing train, July, 1890. said parts being arranged and adapted to JAMES XVAYLAND. operate substantially as set forth. \Vitnesses:

19. In a railway appliance, a cylinder hav- OSCAR A. MICHEL, 1o ing arms r 03in combination with connections CHARLES H. PELL. 

